On the first day of the NATO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held at the Alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Igli Hasani, emphasized the necessity for NATO not to divert attention from the Western Balkans region, as this contributes to the peace and stability of the area.

Referring to Prime Minister Rama’s commitment at the Vilnius Summit regarding Albania’s defense spending, Minister Hasani stated that the 2% of Gross Domestic Product quota is the minimum level of declared engagement, not its maximum.

Three years after Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, Minister Hasani highlighted Albania’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The participating ministers discussed the progress of decisions made at the Vilnius Summit, aiming for NATO to continue preserving peace, preventing conflicts, and safeguarding the population and values of allied countries, as well as the priorities of the Washington Summit, scheduled for July this year.

This ministerial meeting is the first at the Foreign Ministers’ level, with Sweden participating as an allied country, bringing the Alliance to 32 allied nations. Additionally, this meeting coincides with the 75th anniversary of NATO’s establishment and the 15th anniversary of our country’s membership in the Euro-Atlantic Alliance.